\Stut, 



O 

(l^u Xsurrv jIuJUaxjuxj , 



^ 



MJk. 




Clnss )-p a^ 



I'UKSKNTHI) liY 



THE JEWS OF GEORGIA FROM THE OUTBREAK OF 
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION TO THE 
CLOSE OF THE 18TH CENTURY. 
By Leon Huhneb, A. M., LL. B. 



Reprinted from 

Publications of the 

American Jewish Historical Society, 

No. 17, 1909. 



.=i5 



Gift 
2? Mc'Q9 



THE JEWS OF GEORGIA FROM THE OUTBREAK OF 
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION TO THE 
CLOSE OF THE 18TH CENTURY. 
By Leon Huhner, A. M., LL. B. 
When, in July, 1775, the Georgia Provincial Congress was 
in session debating on the critical relations between the col- 
onies and the mother country, the Rev. John J. Zubly, then 
perhaps the most prominent Protestant minister in the 
colony, preached a sermon before the Congress, in which he 
rebuked the spirit of submission which had been preached by 
other divines, who had quoted both the old and new testaments 
as arguments for bearing their grievances in silence. 

In the course of his remarks the Rev. Mr. Zubly gave utter- 
ance to the following: " As to the Jewish religion it cannot 
be charged with favoring despotism. The whole system of 
that religion is so replete with laws against injustice and 
oppression ; and by one of its express rites it proclaimed lib- 
erty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof." ' 

That statement goes indeed far to explain how it happened 
that the adherents of Judaism, a race naturally conservative, 
should have been far more uniformly attached to the cause of 
liberty during the Revolutionary period than most of the 
other denominations. It is also interesting to note, that as 
a general thing the leaders of the congregation were generally 
the ones who took a most prominent part in the patriot cause. 

At the outbreak of the Revolution the Jews in Georgia were 
few in number, there being in 1771 no more than about forty 
Jewish families in the colony. Yet these few have left their 

1 " The Law of Liberty," a sermon preached at the opening of 
the Provincial Congress of Georgia by John J. Zubly, D. D., July, 
1775. American Archives, 4th Series, Vol. 2, p. 1563. 



90 American Jewish Historical Society. 

impress on Georgia's history, and made an enviable record on 
their country's annals. 

It may not be amiss here to briefly review the career of the 
Jews in the colony before hostilities commenced. In Georgia, 
Jewish history commences almost contemporaneously with the 
founding of the colony, for the first Jewish settlers, both the 
German and Portuguese (who seem to have come independ- 
ently of each other), arrived in 1733 shortly after Oglethorpe. 
From the very start, therefore, they shared with their Chris- 
tian fellow-settlers all the struggles and hardships of pioneers 
in a strange land.^ 

It was not long before the Jews became an important 
factor in colonial life; for entirely apart from commercial 
enterprise, the two great industries to which the trustees 
looked primarily for success, namely, vine culture and silk 
culture, were at the start almost exclusively developed by 
Jewish colonists. 

Toleration being general, a spirit of universal brotherhood 
was fostered, the evidence of which may still be found in the 
" Union Society," which is still one of the most important 
charitable organizations in Savannah. This society was 
founded in 1750 by three men of different creeds, a Protest- 
ant, a Catholic, and Benjamin Sheftall, a Jew. The name 
" Union " was adopted after the first few years of its existence, 
to emphasize the fact that though its founders belonged to 
different creeds they were all united on the broad ground of 
the brotherhood of man.^ It was but natural, therefore, that 

^ See paper by the present writer on " The Jews of Georgia in 
Colonial Times." 

^ See " Minutes of the Union Society," Savannah, 1860, p. 126. 
Also an interesting account given in " Historic and Picturesque 
Savannah," by Adelaide Wilson, Boston, 1899, pp. 28, 82, etc. 
Also " Census of the City of Savannah," by Joseph Bancroft, 
Savannah, 1848, p. 45. Also paper by the present writer on " The 
Jews of Georgia in Colonial Times," Publications of the American 
Jewish Historical Society, No. 10, p. 65, etc. 



The Jews of Georgia — Huhner. 91 

the Jews in such a colony should take the same warm interest 
in its welfare as their Christian brethren. 

Throughout the entire struggle for independence in Geor- 
gia, we meet with scarcely any Jewish loyalists, and one of 
these had held office under the crown for many years before. 
This was Moses Nunez, searcher of the Port of Savannah, who 
appears as Indian Interpeter in 1779, in a list of names of 
" officers of his Majesty's province." * 

At the very start, when a spirit of resistance took hold of 
the patriots, those in Savannah organized what was known 
as the " Parochial Committee," or as the British termed it, 
the " Eebel Parochial Committee," which regulated the in- 
ternal affairs of the town. The chairman of this organization 
was Mordecai Sheftall, a Jew, the son of the founder of the 
Union Society of which he was likewise a member. It was 
as Chairman of the Rebel Parochial Committee that Sheftall 
was persecuted by the British during the war." 

In August, 1774, a general meeting was held at Savannah 
to protest against the blockade of Boston Harbor and taxa- 
tion without representation. Some of the citizens of Savan- 
nah at once got up a dissent from these resolutions, though it 
by no means follows that they were loyalists. On the con- 
trary, some of them were subsequently numbered among the 
most distinguished in the patriot cause. They dissented 
merely because of the arbitrary way in which the former meet- 
ing had been held, many districts not having been represented 
at all. 

The dissent closes with these words : " Upon the whole, 
the world will judge whether the meeting of the 10th inst, 

* " Georgia Historical Society Collections," Vol. 3, p. 252. Also 
" Historical Collections of Georgia," compiled from original rec- 
ords and oflBcial documents by Rev. George White, M. A., New 
York, 1855, p. 38, etc. He does not appear to have been an active 
partisan however. 

' White's " Historical Collections of Georgia," pp. 98, 104, 105. 



93 American Jewish Historical Society. 

held by a few persons in a tavern, with doors shut can with 
any appearance of truth or decency be called a general meet- 
ing of the inhabitants of Georgia. Having given our reason 
at large, we enter this our public dissent and do earnestly 
desire that such resolutions may not be taken as the sense of 
the inhabitants of Georgia." This paper is signed by James 
Habersham, Noble Jones and other distinguished men. It 
bears 80 signatures, among them those of Moses Nunez and 
Joseph Ottolenghe.* 

After Lexington and Concord, however, the colonists were 
sufficiently aroused to take sides. The first Provincial Con- 
gress met at Savannah July 4, 1775. On that occasion, the 
President of Congress received and read a resolution adopted 
by several of the inhabitants of Savannah in June, 1775. 
After reciting that all peaceful measures ought first to be 
exhausted, on the ground that the interests of the province 
are inseparable from the mother country, the resolution con- 
cluded " That this province ought and it is hoped will forth- 
with join the other provinces in every just and legal measure 
to secure and restore the liberty of all America and for healing 
the unhappy divisions now subsisting between Great Britain 
and her colonies." 

Among the 35 signatures attached to this resolution arc 
those of J. Lucena and Levi Sheftall, a brother of Mordecai 
Sheftall.' 

The patriot cause in Georgia was, however, by no means 
encouraging. This is best shown by figures. Although at 
the outbreak of hostilities the colony numbered 20,000 inhabi- 
tants, she had but 1000 militia throughout 1775 and 1776 
and from 1779 to 1782 the militia numbered but 750, because, 
as is stated by General Jackson, the State at that time " was 

8 White's " Historical Collections of Georgia," p. 49, etc. 

' White's " Historical Collections of Georgia," p. 66. See also 
" A History of Georgia," by Rev. William Bacon Stevens, Phila- 
delphia, 1859, Vol. 2, p. 107. 



The Jews of Georgia — Hilhner. 93 

totally ravaged by the enemy and the citizens of Georgia never 
quit the field, although compelled to abandon not only their 
homes but frequently their State." ' 

In the very beginning of the struggle some Jewish names 
appear prominently in the Revolutionary line. Most prominent 
of these beyond doubt was Mordecai Sheftall subsequently 
Commissary General for South Carolina and Georgia." Be- 
sides him we find the following among the Eevolutionary 
officers of the colony, Lieutenant Abraham Seixas," a brother 
of the Rev. Gershom Seixas, the patriot minister of New 
York; Cushman Polock," Sheftall Sheftall,'^ and Lieutenant 
David Sarzedas " who was the son of Abraham Sarzedas and 
whose mother was Caty Hays, a daughter of Judah Hays of 
New York." 

* " Statistics of the State of Georgia," by George White, Savan- 
nah, 1849, p. 64. Also " The Life and Services of General Samuel 
Elbert," by C. C. Jones, 1887, p. 44, etc. 

* White's " Historical Collections of Georgia," pp. 114, 348, etc. 
" Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army during 
the War of the Revolution," by F. B. Heitman, Washington, 1893, 
p. 363. " New York Historical Society Collections," 1879, pp. 260, 
etc. " Bulletin of the Bureau of Rolls and Library of the Depart- 
ment of State," No. 3 (Washington Papers), pp. 106-7. See also 
article on Mordecai Sheftall by the present writer in the Balti- 
more Jewish Comment for November 9 and 16, 1900. 

^" White's " Historical Collections, etc.," p. 113. White's " Sta- 
tistics, etc.," p. 65. Daly's " Settlement of Jews in North Amer- 
ica," p. 72. 

" " New York Historical Society Collections," 1879, p. 264, etc. 

'- White's " Historical Collections, etc.," pp. 113, 114, etc. White's 
" Statistics, etc.," p. 65. 

» Ihid. 

" Abraham Sarzedas was enrolled as a freeman in New York 
as early as 1753 but removed to Georgia shortly afterward. See 
paper by the present writer on the " Jews of Georgia in Colonial 
Times." Also Publications of American Jewish Historical So- 
ciety, No. 6, p. 102. 
8 



94 American Jewish Historical Society. 

The Savannah Congregation broke up as soon as hostilities 
commenced and several of its members joined the patriots in 
the field. 

Mordecai Sheftall soon became one of the prominent Kevo- 
lutionary officers of Georgia. At the very start, he joined the 
patriots and as we have seen, was well known as Chairman of 
the Parochial Committee. After the beginning of war, he 
was appointed Commissary General to the troops of Georgia " 
and in 1777 General Elbert appointed him Commissary to 
the Continental troops as well." 

These duties he must have discharged creditably indeed for 
in October, 1778, Major-General Howe added to his other 
offices that of Deputy Commissary of Issues in South Caro- 
lina and Georgia." He became a member of the general 
staff " and while unfortunately most of the detail of his ser- 
vice is lost, it is known that in 1778 when the British 
attacked Savannah his name was not only prominent among 
the patriot defenders of the city but he appears to have 
advanced considerable sums to the patriot cause as well." 

After the taking of Savannah, he was one of those who 
were so unfortunate as to fall into the hands of the British. 

" See Dr. Friedenwald's article on " Jews in the Journal of the 
Continental Congress," Publications of American Jewish His- 
torical Society, No. 1, p. 86, and references to the Journals of 
Congress there given. Also " Bulletin of the Bureau of Rolls 
and Library of the Department of State," No. 3 (Washington 
Papers), pp. 106-7. Also "New York Historical Society Collec- 
tions," 1879, p. 260, etc. 

" Ibid. 

" Ibid. 

'* Ibid. Also White's " Historical Collections, etc.," p. 114. Also 
" Historical Register of OfHcers, etc.," by F. B. Heitman, p. 363. 

^» " Papers of the Continental Congress," No. 41, Vol. IX, p. 117. 
Also No. 136, Vol. IV, pp. 411, 591, 643 and 647. "Journal of 
Congress," Sept. 14, 1780. Compare article by present writer in 
Jewish Comment November 9 and 16, 1900. 



The Jews of Georgia — HiiJiner. 95 

It is during his captivity that his intense devotion to the 
cause of freedom becomes most manifest. He steadfastly re- 
sisted all temptation to abandon that cause and preferred to 
suffer years of hardship than to gain his liberty at the 
expense of principle.^ 

The British Commander offered a general pardon to all 
who would return to their allegiance and many special in- 
ducements were held out to such individuals.^ Sheftall, 
however, remained unshaken in his fidelity, though this 
served materially to increase the hardships of his captivity. 

To quote Stevens' " History of Georgia," " Those who re- 
fused to enlist after being alternately threatened and coaxed 
were put on board ships in the river, crowded together like 
slaves, terrorized over by every petty officer, stinted in pro- 
visions and every necessary of life and treated with savage 
barbarity so that four or five died every day." " Nor," says 
Stevens, " was this treatment confined to common soldiers 
alone. Civilians of standing and property were thrown indis- 
criminately into these prison ships and, in some instances, 
officers who had a military right to different treatment were 
as in the case of Mordecai Sheftall of the Georgia line, and 
the Reverend Moses Allen, Chaplain, thus immured." ~ 

The " Georgia Historical Collections " also mention this 
patriot prominently as one of those placed on board the prison 
ships, because of his refusal to enlist in the British Service;^ 
altliough it appears that the proclamation of Commodore 
Parker had induced a very considerable number of Americans 
to flock to the royal standard.'* 

"" See White's " Historical Collections, etc.," p. 348, etc. 

" " A History of Georgia," by Rev. William Bacon Stevens, 
Philadelphia, 1859, Vol. 2, p. 183, etc. 

-'- lUd. 

'^IMd. See also White's "Historical Collections, etc.," p. 339, 
etc. 

^^ Ibid. 



96 American Jewish Historical Society. 

It was during his captivity no doubt that Sheftall relieved 
his mind by jotting down the details of his imprisonment in 
a journal subsequently published under the title " Capture of 
Mordecai Sheftall, Deputy Commissary of Issues." ^ The 
writer will pass over the details of this captivity as shown in 
the journal referred to, as that more fully appears in a paper 
prepared by him which appeared in the Jewish Comment.^ 

The spirit of this patriot prisoner, while on the prison ship, 
appears from the following entry in his journal : " Captain 
Stanhope treated me with the most illiberal abuse, and after 
charging me with having refused to supply the King's ships 
with provisions and of having shut the church door together 
with many other ill natured things, ordered me on board the 
prison ship with my son. I made a point of giving Mr. 
Stanhope suitable answers to his impudent treatment." " 

He appears in the language of the old record to have been 
designated by the British as " a very great rebel " ; and was 
guarded accordingly.^ 

One of his fellow-prisoners on board the ship was Moses 
Valentonge. This soldier may possibly have been a Jew. The 
name appears in various forms as Moses Yolloton, David 
Moses Vallotton^ or Valentonge and again as Valentine. It 
is quite possible that he was the ancestor of the Valentine 
family which subsequently gave several prominent men to 
Jewish Congregations.^" 

These prisoners were taken to the West Indies, where they 
suffered great hardships and finally they were brought back, 
as captives, to Sunbury.^^ 

^ Wliite's Historical Collections, etc., p. 339, etc. 
=" November 9 and 16, 1900. 

" White's " Historical Collections, etc.," pp. 340-42, 348. 
=» Ibid. 

^ White's " Historical Collections, etc.," p. 339, etc. 
^^ Ibid., pp. 340-42. See also early volumes of Occident. 
^* White's " Historical Collections, etc.," p. 339, etc. Also " His- 
toric and Picturesque Savannah," by Adelaide Wilson, p. 82, etc. 



The Jews of Georgia — Hiihner. 97 

Among their number were some of the foremost patriots of 
Georgia, and they seem to have been allowed a certain measure 
of liberty. At the Lenox Library in New York, there is pre- 
served an original manuscript copy of a document certified by 
John W. Arthur, Commissioner of Prisoners, dated June 19, 
1779, which reads as follows : 

We the subscribers being prisoners of War, taken by his 
Majesty's Troops, hereby engage and promise upon our words 
of honor, that we shall remain wherever the Commanding Officer 
of his Majesty's Army in Georgia shall think proper to have us 
quarter'd and remain within the bounds to us prescribed. And 
also that We shall not directly or indirectly act and serve against 
his Majesty and Government until we are properly exchanged 
either for OflBcers of the same Rank or on such terms as may be 
agreed upon whenever a Cartel is fixed upon. 

Witness our hands at Savannah this 19th day of June One 
thousand seven hundred and seventy nine. 

Signed Samuel Elbert, B. G. and servt. 

John Habersham Major 1st C. B. Geo. 
Mordecai Sheftall D. C. G. of Issues, 
and some forty additional names.^^" 

It has already been mentioned that Mordecai Sheftall was 
a member of the Union Society. It was with pride that the 
citizens of Savannah at a later date, pointed to Mordecai 
Sheftall as tlie man who preserved the society in the darkest 
days of the Eevolution. 

Among his fellow-prisoners, it so happened that there were 
three others who were members of the society. According to 
its original rules, any three members could keep up the or- 
ganization, and this Sheftall and his fellow-prisoners pro- 
ceeded to do. For three years during their captivity they 
held their meetings and observed the anniversary of the 

"^« Emmett Collection, No. 7534. In the same collection (No. 
7538) is a MS. list of American Officers not exchanged, which 
contains the names of Brigadier General Elbert Mordecai Sheftall, 
Dy. Commissary Genl. of Issues, Sheftall Sheftall Asst. Do. and 
the names of other prominent patriots. 



98 American Jewish Historical Society. 

society under a large oak tree. The names of these four 
patriots have been preserved with respect by their fellow- 
citizens. They are Mordecai Sheftall, John Martin (dreaded 
by the British under the name of " Black John from the 
Northward " and destined subsequently to become Governor 
of the State of Georgia), John Stirk, who had been a dele- 
gate to the first Continental Congress, and Josiah Powell. 
By these men Sheftall was chosen president." 

So highly did the citizens of Savannah at a later date 
appreciate the preservation of the organization, that when in 
1825 General Lafayette, then the guest of the nation, laid 
the corner-stone of the Pulaski Monument, there was de- 
posited therein, as appears from the " Georgia Historical Col- 
lections," " a piece of the oak tree under which in 1779 the 
charter of the Union Society was preserved and Mordecai 
Sheftall, then a prisoner of war, elected president." " 

Again in 1850, at its centennial anniversary, the Society 
which numbered among its members the Governor and lead- 
ing men of the State, was presented with a box made from 
the wood of the same oak and adopted the following 
resolution : 

" The Society will preserve it, as a precious memorial of 
the patriotism and benevolence of the small but noble band, 
whose devotion to this Society was only strengthened, and 
brought into more active exercise by their glorious struggle 
for their liberty and honor, and by the calamities of cap- 
tivity." " 

It must have been by special privilege and while still under 
parole that Sheftall was permitted in 1780 to attend the 

^^Ibid. See also " Minutes of the Union Society," 1860, pp. 104, 
113, 126. Also paper by the present writer in Jewish Comment, 
Baltimore, November 9 and 16, 1900. 

^ White's " Historical Collections of Georgia," p. 310. Under 
the branches of this same tree, also, Oglethorpe had opened the 
first lodge of Freemasons in Georgia. 

** " Minutes of the Union Society," 1860, p. 112. 



The Jews of Georgia — Hiiliner. 99 

court-martial of General Howe, to which Mr. Kohler has 
heretofore called attention. In the course of his defense, 
General Howe stated, " Mordecai Sheftall is an honest man 
and from the testimony of such I know I have nothing to 
fear." " Cushman Polock also figured as a witness in these 
proceedings.'* 

Besides those already mentioned several decidedly Jewish 
names appear in the Georgia line though there is nothing to 
indicate their race. These are Lewis Solomon," Isaac Avera," 
Captain Wm. Aaron,'" Joshua Barnett,*" and Abraham Peavy" 

In Jones's life of General Elbert, David Sarzedas is men- 
tioned as Lieutenant of Light Dragoons and as an ofificer of 
the general stafE."^ Among other names may be mentioned 
those of N. Lazarus,"" Samuel Sampson,"" Mordecai and 
Sheftall Sheftall,'' as officers, and Captain Abraham Simons." 

The Minis family also was among the most distinguished 
and patriotic in the colony. Both William and James Minis 
fought in the Georgia line" and two of the most patriotic 

" Trial of Major-General Howe, " New York Historical Society 
Collections," 1879, p. 301, etc. 

^IMd., p. 264, etc. 

" Smith's " History of Georgia, etc.," p. 629. 

^Ibid., p. 612. 

"Ibid. 

« Ibid. 

" Ibid., p. 621. 

« White's " Statistics, etc.," p. 65. Also " The Life and Services 
of General Samuel Elbert of Georgia," by Charles C. Jones, 1887, 
p. 45. 

"White's "Historical Collections, etc.," pp. Ill, 112. 

"7&td., p. 112. 

" White's " Statistics, etc.," p. 65, and other authorities hereto- 
fore given. 

" White's " Historical Collections, etc.," p. 682. Of the names 
last mentioned, only the Sheftalls have been positively identified 
as Jews. 

" Smith's " History of Georgia, etc.," pp. 619, 627. 



100 American Jewish Historical Society. 

women of the South belonged to the same family. It was 
Mrs. Minis who brought food for Mordecai Sheftall at the 
commencement of his captivity *' and both she and her daugh- 
ter were conspicuous for their loyalty to the patriot cause. 
In a language of an old work on Georgia : " Both Mrs. Judy 
Minis and her mother were great whigs in the Eevolutionary 
War. After Savannah was taken they were confined to their 
dwelling and were finally ordered to leave the town." *° Mrs. 
Judy Minis died in 1836 at the age of 87." 

Lieutenant Abraham Seixas seems to have been another 
prominent officer in the Georgia line, and to have enjoyed 
the confidence of his superiors. He was frequently sent on 
dangerous and important missions. Thus in July, 1776, 
Colonel Mcintosh mentions sending Lieutenant Seixas " of 
our batallion " to General Lee from Georgia to Charleston 
bearing important information.^^ In the same year we find 
Archibald Buller writing to Lee mentioning Colonel Seixas 
as the bearer of information.^^ And in September, 1782, Mr. 
Polock is mentioned in a similar connection in the corre- 
spondence between Greene and Marion." 

Some of the patriot Jews advanced considerable sums to the 
cause from the start. It has been heretofore pointed out by 
Dr. Herbert Friedenwald, how in 1778 Congress was consider- 
ing the report of the Committee on the Treasury and ordered 
that Philip Minis be paid nearly $7000 for moneys advanced 
by him to the acting paymaster of the troops of Virginia and 
North Carolina in the State of Georgia.'^' Later in the same 

** White's "Historical Collections, etc.," p. 339, etc. 

■*« White's " Statistics, etc.," p. 167. =» Ibid. 

"" New York Historical Society Collections," 1872 (Lee Papers, 
Vol. 2), p. 168. "-Ibid., p. 171. 

°^ R. W. Gibbes, " Documentary History of the American Revo- 
lution," p. 227. 

" " Journal of the Continental Congress," August 29, 1778, and 
November 7, 1778. 



The Jeivs of Georgia — Huhner. 101 

year Congress directed payment of a bill of over $5000 in 
favor of Minis and Cohen and another for about $1300 in 
favor of Cushman Polock." Mordecai Sheftall likewise gave 
financial aid and Mr. Kohler has called attention to the many 
Congressional documents showing the efforts to recover some 
of the moneys advanced by him to the American cause/* The 
petitions, documents and reports in this connection are quite 
numerous and the claim, though favorably reported, seems 
never to have been repaid," meeting with no better success 
than the more important claims of Haym Salomon. 

It may not be without interest to note here that when the 
patriots besieged Savannah with the French auxiliaries in 
October, 1779, it appears that General Lincoln in his plan of 
attack mentions as one of the rallying places " the Jews 
burying ground where the reserves will be placed." °' 

I am indebted to Mr. Eosenbach, of Philadelphia, for an 
interesting note connected with the siege of Savannah and 
found in Stevens' " Facsimiles of Manuscripts in European 
Archives," which relates to the landing of the French troops 
under Count D'Estang in September, 1779.°" 

The document recites that " Mr. Philip Minis, a merchant 

"I6i(Z., August 29, 1778. 

°*" Journals of Congress," House, Second, 1st Session, p. 554; 
Third, 1st Session, pp. 77-78; Fourth, 1st Session, p. 451; Fourth, 
2d Session, p. 691; Seventh, 1st Session, pp. 136, 177. Carpenter, 
" American Senator," Vol. Ill, p. 449, etc. Publications of 
American Jewish Historical Society, No. 4, p. 99. 

" The claims were favorably reported however. See " Papers 
of the Continental Congress," No. 136, Vol. IV, pp. 411, 591, 643, 
647. 

'"'History of Georgia," by Hugh McCall, Savannah, 1816, Vol. 
2, p. 266. 

°° B. F. Stevens, " Facsimiles of Manuscripts in European Arch- 
ives relating to America, 1773-1783, with Descriptions, Editorial 
Notes, Collations, References and Translations," Vol. XXIII, Nos. 
1946-2023, London, 1889-1898. 



102 American Jewish Historical Society. 

of Savannah, said to be thoroughly acquainted with the neigh- 
borhood of Savannah for a distance of 15 miles, and with all 
the roads and dwellings, is able to guide any party even 
through the woods. He says that the house of Mr, Morel at 
the Bioulay is the best place for landing on account of the 
facilities for forming any number of troops." 

The document also recites " that Mr. Sheftall Levy a 
native of Savannah is of the same opinion," An extended 
detail of the plan arranged for the French by these two 
gentlemen is also set forth,"" 

This interesting French document concludes with the state- 
ment that " the two gentlemen Philip Minis and Sheftall 
Levi will conduct the force of men whenever ordered to do 
so." " 

Several Jews also served with the patriots and the French 
auxiliaries before Savannah. A document is still extant 
which recites how Major Nones " in the disastrous affair at 
Savannah shared the hardships of that sanguinary day." *" 
The Nones family also possess a testimonial signed by Cap- 
tain Verdier of Pulaski's staff which contains the following 
statement : " Benjamin Nones has served as a volunteer in 
my Company during the campaign of this year, at the siege 
of Savannah in Georgia. His behavior under fire in all the 
bloody actions we fought have been marked by the bravery 
and courage which a military man is expected to show for 
the liberties of his country and which acts of said Nones 
gained in his favor the esteem of General Pulaski as well as 
that of all the officers who witnessed his daring conduct." " 

It is more than likely, too, that Jacob De Leon, Emanuel 

*" Ibid. 

"' Ibid. 

" See " A Political Document of the Year 1800," by Dr. Cyrus 
Adler in Publications of Jewish Historical Society, No. 1, p. 112. 

'^"The Hebrews in America," by Isaac Markens, p. 127. Also 
Morals, " Jews of Philadelphia," pp. 25, 26. 



The Jeivs of Georgia — Huhner. 103 

and Jacob De La Motta who also served under Pulaski were 
present at the siege of Savannah." 

In 1780 the British passed their famous disqualifying ace 
which recites, That 

" Whereas, a most audacious, wicked and unprovoked re- 
bellion was lately raised and carried on against His Majesty 
in the Province of Georgia, and several persons concerned 
therein, in a most violent, hostile and unlawful manner, 
usurped the government thereof and erected themselves into 
a pretended, independent State, where they exercised many 
acts of violence and oppression in contempt of His Majesty; 
and 

" Whereas, the several persons hereinafter named were 
active and concerned in said unlawful proceedings, the said 
persons are disqualified from holding office," " etc. 

About 150 names appear in the disqualifying act which 
contains the names of all the most prominent patriots of 
Georgia. I shall here mention a few of these as they seem 
to be arranged in order of importance. They are John 
Houston, Eebel Governor; Lachlin Macintosh, Kebel General; 
George Walton, Member of Kebel Congress ; Noble Wymberly 
Jones, Speaker of Rebel Assembly. Near the head of the list 
is found " Mordecai Sheftall, Chairman of Eebel Parochial 
Committee," and further down Levi Sheftall, Philip Jacob 
Cohen, Sheftall Sheftall, rebel officer; Philip Minis, Cush- 
man Pollock.'' 

At this period the patriot cause seems to have been well 
nigh lost in Georgia. 

In the pension rolls published in 1818 the following appar- 
ently Jewish names appear as Eevolutionary pensioners : 

•^ " The American Jew as Patriot, Soldier & Citizen," by Hon. 
Simon Wolf., p. 51. Also Markens' " Hebrews in America." 
** White's "Historical Collections, etc.," p. 98, etc. 
"^lUd., pp. 98, 102, 104. 



104 American Jewish Historical Society. 

David Sarzedas, Lieut. Georgia Continental Line;*^ Joseph 
Davidson/' Levi Philips;* Sheftall Sheftall/" Wm. Aaron" 
and Joshua Pharaoh." 

In 1777 when the first Constitution was adopted, a most 
narrow view prevailed, the Constitution providing that all 
persons who were elected to office should be Protestants." 

Before proceeding a curious fact must be noted in order to 
prevent misapprehension in research in Georgia history. 

Before Savannah again came into the hands of the Ameri- 
cans and while the Assembly was convened at Augusta it 
passed a sweeping act of attainder in May, 1783. This act 
was a most ridiculous performance, for, in their blind zeal 
to punish those who were hostile to the cause, the Assembly 
included many of the most prominent patriots in the colony.'^ 

To quote Smith's " History of Georgia," " Without giving 
the accused a hearing and merely because of a rumor that 
they had not been true to the American cause, many were 
sentenced to confiscation and banishment." 

" Many innocent persons were included in it, and for 
several years following there were numerous acts passed for 
the relief of those involved. There were, however, many acts 
of great hardship and injustice." '" 

One of the provisions of this act was especially severe; it 
confiscated the property of those mentioned and provided 

" " Report of the Secretary of War," Washington, 1835, Vol. 13, 
p. 15. S. C. Pension Roll. 

'^^ Ibid., Georgia, p. 26. 

'"Ibid., p. 34. 

'"Ibid., p. 34. 

'^Ibid., p. 37. 

'^Ibid., p. 55. 

" " The Story of Georgia and the Georgia People," by George 
Gilman Smith, D. D., Macon, 1900, p. 87. 

" " The Story of Georgia, etc.," by G. G. Smith, p. 102. 

" Ibid. 

'' Ibid. 



The Jews of Georgia — HuJiner. 105 

that " any who shall wilfully or intentionally conceal any 
part of the personal property hereinbefore confiscated or 
prevent the commissioners from disposing of the same shall 
be guilty of a felony and on conviction thereof shall suffer 
death." " 

To make this performance all the more ridiculous many of 
the names had also been proscribed by the British, thus, Sir 
Patrick Houston and John Martin had been attainted by the 
British as rebels,'* and then by this act, as Loyalists." 

As Smith says, " The same was true of sundry others, and 
many of those found on this list aspersed as Tories were found 
afterward to be leading men in the counsels of the State." "' 
This was certainly true in Martin's case who was dreaded as 
the enemy of the British and subsequently became Governor 
of the State. Special acts were passed for the relief of those 
mentioned.'" 

The act referred to attaints several hundred persons and 
among these are found the names of Isaac De Leon, and 
Levi Shef tall ; *°" the latter it will be remembered was the 
brother of Mordecai Sheftall and had been named in the dis- 
qualifying act passed by the British as well. 

Both those mentioned, however, may have been in the class 
referred to by Smith. For in 1785 there appears a special 
act, passed by the Legislature of Georgia for their relief and 
Levi Sheftall, Isaac De Lyon and also a David Leion were 

" " Digest of the Laws of the State of Georgia," Savannah, 1802, 
p. 84. 

'« " The Story of Georgia, etc.," p. 102. 

''^ Ibid. John Martin subsequently became Governor of the 
State of Georgia. 

""" Smith's " The Story of Georgia, etc.," pp. 102, 103. 

«" lUd. 

*"> Ibid. See " Digest of the Laws of the State of Georgia," 
1802, p. 83. 



106 American Jewish Historical Society. 

restored to citizenship." In 1787 a second act was passed for 
tlie further relief of Levi Sheftall.'' 

By 1782 many of the patriots had gone to Philadelphia 
then the refuge for those who had incurred the enmity of the 
British, and among the founders of the " Congregation of the 
Eevolution" as the Philadelphia Congregation may well be 
styled, may be found a few names of Georgia patriots. These 
are Abraham Seixas, Cushman Pollak, Mordecai Sheftall, 
Sheftall Sheftall, Major Nones, and Jacob Cohen.^ 

But these gentlemen seemed to have remained in Phila- 
delphia for a short time only. They returned to Georgia 
within a year. 

After the close of the war the State of Georgia became pos- 
sessed of considerable land and rewarded with grants many 
of those who had been faithful to the cause of independence, 
and had rendered valuable military service.^'* 

Among others so rewarded may be found the names of 
Lewis Solomon,""" N. Lazarus, Samuel Sampson, Mordecai 
Sheftall, and Sheftall Sheftall.** 

Just before the treaty of peace was signed many of the 
Jews returned to their State,"" while others came from various 
parts. By 1786 Jews were again in sufficient numbers to re- 
establish the Congregation. Philip Minis was chosen Parnass, 
David N. Cardozo who had served in the South Carolina Line, 
Levi Sheftall, Cushman Pollak, Joseph Abrahams, Abraham 

'' Ibid., p. 78. 

"' IMd., p. 103. See also " The Revolutionary Records of the 
State of Georgia" (Atlanta, 1908), Vol. I, pp. 612, 614, 617. 

" See Morals, " Jews of Philadelphia." Comp. " "Westcott's His- 
tory of the Test Laws of Pennsylvania," Philadelphia, 1865. 

s^a White's " Historical Collections, etc.," p. 112. Smith's " Story 
of Georgia, etc.," p. 113. 

«'*' IMd., p. 629. 

** White's " Historical Collections, etc.," p. 112. 

"' See article in Occident, Vol. 1, p. 486, etc. 



The Jews of Georgia — Hiihner. 107 

De Pas and Emanuel De La Motta were among the prime 
movers for that purpose,*" and it is interesting to note that 
most of those who were foremost in re-establishing the Con- 
gregation, had fought for the patriot cause. 

Miss Adelaide Wilson in her interesting sketch of Savannah 
tells us that " Of all the various creeds represented in Savan- 
nah, to the Hebrew Congregation alone belongs the honor of 
having addressed a letter of congratulation to Washington on 
his accession to the Presidency." '* This letter together with 
Washington's reply have been published in the proceedings of 
this Society and I will therefore refrain from making further 
mention of them. 

In what esteem the Jews were held by their Christian 
fellow-citizens may be shown by a curious incident occurring 
in 1790. The grave of the mother of Benjamin Sheftall lay 
within the woody region of the site of the present Independent 
Presbyterian Church. In appreciation of the valuable ser- 
vices of Benjamin Sheftall the width of South Broad Street, 
we are informed, was extended so as to include within its 
space the unmarked place of burial of his mother." Some of 
the original settlers of the colony lived, like Oglethorpe, to 
see the colony an independent commonwealth. Among these 
may be mentioned Daniel Nunez who died in 1789 and Moses 
Nunez who died in 1787."^ 

^ Ibid. Comp. Markens' " Hebrews in America." 

*' See also " Historic and Picturesque Savannah," p. 95. The 
latter together with Washington's reply was published in Publi- 
cations of American Jewish Historical Society, No. 3, p. 88 f. 

" " Historic and Picturesque Savannah," by Adelaide Wilson, 
p. 89, etc. It may be interesting to note here that the Jewish 
Burial Ground was the first to be enclosed within Savannah, a 
fact which was favorably commented upon and finally influenced 
the Gentiles of Savannah to make a similar inclosure. 

** Ibid., p. 89. See paper by the present writer in Jewish Com- 
ment, 1901. 



108 American Jewish Historical Society. 

In reviewing the history of the Jews of Georgia, we must 
constantly bear in mind the paucity of their numbers and the 
prominent positions occupied by them. The Jews of the 
South generally were heart and soul in the cause of independ- 
ence and their conduct fully warranted the remarks of Mr. 
Worthington when, speaking in favor of the Jew Bill in Mary- 
land, in 1828, he stated that " There were many valuable 
Jewish members, officers principally in the Eevolution, from 
the South chiefly, and these were ever at their post and always 
foremost in hazardous enterprises." ** 

*' Address of Mr. Worthington on the Maryland Jew Bill, 1828. 

Immediately after the Revolution Georsia had considerable 
trouble with the Indians and Savannah was much exercised with 
fears of uprisings among the savages. Lieut. Benjamin Sheftall 
is prominently mentioned in this connection as commander of the 
militia for the defense of the town. See " Historic and Pictur- 
esque Savannah," pp. 81, 82, etc. (1787-9). 



